Safety closure

ABSTRACT

A safety closure for a liquid container has a base provided with a dispensing channel which is opened and closed by a spool-type valve element movable axially in the base. A rotatable cover locks the valve element in its closed position. Both the valve element and cover must be turned to prescribed angular positions before the valve element can be moved axially to its open position.

llnitefl States Patent 111 s /W M Dykes Mar. 19, 1974 SAFETY CLOSURE3,422,996 1/1969 Lipman 251/100 x [75] in entor: Dewey B. Dykes,Ballwin, MO 900,764 7 /1908 McNutt 222/516 X [73] Assignee: ConservResources Inc., Ballwin, primary E m R b B Reeves AssistantExaminer-Joseph J. Rolla [22] Filed: Oct 17, 9 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Gravely, Lieder &

W d ff 211 Appl. No.: 298,254 m [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 222/41,222/153, 222/483,

2 5 222/515, 215/9, 251/100, 7 5 A safety closure for al1qu1d contamerhas a base pro- 51 1m. (:1 B67d 5/22 vided with a dispensing Channelwhich is Opened and 581 Field of Search 222/25, 41, 153, 212, 481,closed by a p yp valve element movable axially 222/4 2 483 4 4 501 505 55 51 in the base. A rotatable cover locks the valve element 5 5 5 5 7 55in its closed position. Both the valve element and cover must be turnedto prescribed angular positions 5 References Cited before the valveelement can be moved axially to its UNITED STATES PATENTS Open 1.553.1139/1925 Rutt 222/484 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures l 4 1 26 68 F n 1 4 7a lI 4 l 1 21 A l A l r 36 56 4 14?? 62 i so 1 40 l 60 30 1'0 (J 1 I. 1 l 2r 7 1 SAFETY CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto closures and more particularly to safety closures for containers inwhich liquids or viscous substances are, kept.

Many liquids used in the household are extremely toxic, particularly toyoung children. Among these liquids are furniture polish, draincleaners, insecticides, rubbing alcohol, and common solvents such aspaint thinner and benzene. Many of the liquids found in the householdare hazardous substances as defined by the Federal Hazardous SubstanceAct (115 USC 1261), are economic poisons as defined by the FederalInsecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (7 USC 135 (a)) or are foods,drugs or cosmetics as defined by the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act(21 USC 321). Consequently, the containers for these household liquidsmust be kept tightly sealed and away from the grasp of young children.Children, however, have a capacity of getting into cabinets and placeswhich are normally forhidden to them and for further opening liquidcontainers and spilling the contents or even drinking the con tents.Moreover, these containers while normally inaccessible to children,often become available when used by a parent. For example, sometimes theparents attention is distracted, such as by the ring of the telephone ordoor bell, and the child is left unattended near an open container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the principal objects of the presentinvention is to provide a safety closure for containers of liquids orviscous substances, which closure is extremely difficult for olderchildren to operate and practically impossible for younger children tooperate. Another object is to provide a closure which automaticallycloses when left unattended. A further object is to provide a closurehaving a double locking capacity. An additional object is to provide asafety closure which has a minimum number of parts and is easilyassembled. Still another object is to provide a closure of the typestated which may be injection'molded from plastic and other materials.Yet another object is to provide a safety closure which is attractive inappearance. These and other objects and advantages will become apparenthereinafter.

The present invention is embodied in a safety closure including a basehaving a dispensing channel; a valve element in the base movable betweenopen and closed positions wherein the dispensing channel is respectivelyopen and blocked; and a locking member which moves between locking andrelease positions and prevents the valve element from moving axially toits open position when in the locking position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form partof the specification and wherein like numerals and letters refer to likeparts wherever they occur:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a safety closure constructed inaccordance with and embodying the present invention, the closure beingin its closed and locked condition;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the safety closure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. I;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along lines 4-4 and 5-5respectively, of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the closure in its openposition;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the closure with a modified valvestem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now'to the drawings (FIGS. 1 & 2), Cdesignates a closure for a bottle or other container B in which a liquidor viscous substance is contained. The container B has a neck N providedwith screw threads. The closure C engages these threads and is therebysecured to the container B such that it closes the neck and preventsliquid from flowing through it, although the closure C may be attachedto the container B by other types of connections or it may even beformed integral with the container B. The closure C has four basicparts; namely, a body or base 2, a cover 4 which fits over the base 2, avalve stem 6 which fits into the base 2 and functions as a valve elementtherein, and a spring 8 (FIG. 3) which urges the stem 6 to a closed andlocked position.

The base 2 is preferably a unitary structure molded from a plastic whichis compatible with the liquid. It has a generally cylindrical side face10 and a flat upper face 112, the latter being interrupted by an arcuategroove 14 (FIG. 4) which opens upwardly. Immediately below the groove 14the base 2 is provided with a cross bore 16 (FIG. 3), one end of whichis closed, while the other end opens outwardly through the side face 10.The bore 116 is positioned such that its closed end is beneath the spacebetween the ends of the groove 14, and projected into the closed end ofthe bore 16 is a spring mounting stud 18 which is sized to tightly fitinto the spring 8 and thereby retain the spring 8. The bore 16 itself issized to receive the valve stem 6 which slides inwardly and outwardlytherein. While the cross bore 116 is positioned generally below thearcuate groove 14, the upper portion of the bore 16 does intersect thegroove 14 midway between the ends of the groove 14. Thus, the groove 14opens into the cross bore 16 near the outwardly opening end of the crossbore 16. At the intersection of the arcuate groove 14 and the cross bore116, the bore 116 is provided with a vent aperture 22 which is projectedinwardly from the groove 16 toward the center of the base 2. The ventaperture 22 provides communication between the top of the base and thecross bore 116. Directly below the intersection of the groove 14 andcross bore 16, the base 2 is provided with a slot 24 which opensupwardly into the cross bore 116 and outwardly through the side face110.

Projecting upwardly from the flat upper face 12 is a hollow dispensingspindle 26 (FIGS. 3 & 4) which is centered with respect to arcuategroove 14 and the cylindrical side face 10. The interior of the spindle26 opens into the cross bore 16 midway between the ends of that crossbore l6. Near its ends the spindle 26 is provided with an outwardlyopening annular groove 28.

The base 2 is further provided with a downwardly extending skirt 3%(FIG. 3), the exterior surface of which is part of the cylindrical sideface 10. On its inwardly presented face, the skirt 30 has threads 32which are sized to engage the threads on the neck N of the container B.The skirt 30 surrounds a cylindrical boss 34, the two being separated ata shoulder 36. The boss 34 has a center dispensing bore 38 which extendscompletely through it, and this bore at its upper end opens into thecross bore directly opposite from the dispensing spindle 26. Inaddition, the boss 34 is further provided with a vent bore 40 isenlarged at its lower end where it receives a vent tube 42 which extendsto the bottom of the container B. However, where the viscosity of theliquid is low the vent tube 42 is unnecessary. If the container B issued for liquids of high viscosity,

the vent tube 42 should have a check valve (not shown) at its lower end.

The valve stem 6 is molded as a unitary structure from a suitableplastic. The stem 6 includes (FIG. 3) a stem shaft 50, the end of whichaligns with the spring mounting stud l8 and is likewise sized to fittightly into the spring 8. The spring 8 fits between the stem shaft 50and the mounting stud l8, and is normally compressed to urge the stem 6outwardly. The stem moves between open and closed positions, and in bothpositions it is urged outwardly by the spring 8. The opposed ends of thestem shaft 50 and mounting stud 18 are notched to positively attach thespring 8 to them such that the spring 8 is prevented from rotatingrelative to either one of them. Thus, if the stem 6 is turned out of itsnormal angular position, the spring 8 will be placed in torsion and willtend to restore the stem 6 to its initial angular position.

At its opposite end the stem shaft 50 merges into a cylindrical guideportion 52 (FIGS. 3-5) which fits loosely in the bore 16 so as not toimpede axial movement of the stem 6 within the bore 16. The guideportion 52 has a rib 54 (FIG. projecting from it, but not extended itsentire length, and this rib is sized to fit into the slot 24 along thebottom of the cross bore 16. The guide portion 52 in turn merges into anoperating knob 56 which is larger than the cross bore 16 and hence isalways disposed beyond the cylindrical side face on the base 2. Theexposed end face on the operating knob 56 is concave and provided withan arrow or some other form of indicia which when pointed directlyupwardly indicates that the rib 54 on the stem 6 aligns with the slot 24in the base. Of course, when the slot 24 and rib S4 align, the base 2will not interfere with the rib 54 and thereby prevent the stem 6 fromadvancing further into the base 2. Beyond the end face of the guideportion 52 the shaft 50 has a retaining flange 58 (FIG. 3) formedintegral with it. This flange is slightly smaller in diameter than theguide portion 52 and the face thereof which is presented toward theguide portion 52 is beveled.

Fitted over the portion of the stern shaft 50 located beyond theretaining flange 58 is a valve spool 60 having an annular groove 62 init. The spool 60 is molded from a suitable plastic and fits within thecross bore 16 such that the stem 4 shifts axially under the forceexerted on it by the spring 8. Nevertheless, it is large enough to blockthe dispensing and vent bores 38 and 40 when positioned over them.

When the valve stem 6 is in its closed position (FIG. 3), which is itsoutermost position, a portion of the valve spool 60 overlies and blocksthe opposed ends of the dispensing bore 38 and the hollow spindle 26,while another portion overlies the vent bore 40. The annular groove 62,in that case is between the dispensing bore 38 and vent bore 40. Whenthe stem 6 is in its open position (FIG. 7), the annular groove 62 islocated opposite to the ends of the dispensing bore 38 and the hollowspindle 26 and permits liquid to flow from the former to the latter.Moreover, the retaining flange 58 is disposed inwardly beyond the ventbore 40 when the stem 6 is open so that the interior of the container Bis vented through the vent bore 40 and tube 42 connected with it. Thestem 6 will only move between its open and closed positions when the rib54 aligns with the slot 24.

The cover 4 is molded from a suitable plastic and has a conical outerwall 66 (FIG. 3) and an interior sleeve 68 which merge near the upperend of that cover 4. The sleeve 68 receives the dispensing spindle 26and has inwardly directed ribs 70 which snap into the annular grooves 28at the ends of the spindle 26. The ribs 70 lock the cover 4 on the base2, yet leave it free to rotate relative thereto. The outer wall 66extends down to the flat top face 12 of the base 2, and its outersurface forms a continuation of the side face 12 on the base 2.

Molded integral with the conical outer wall along the inside surfacethereof are a pair of blocking elements 72 (FIGS. 3 & 4) which arespaced circumferentially from one another and are bridged by a retainingelement 74. The blocking elements 72 and the retaining element 74 alignwith arcuate groove 14 in the base 2 and project downwardly past thelower edge of the conical outer wall 66 and into the groove 14. Theblocking elements 72 are about as wide as the groove 62 and when thecover 4 is turned such that either one of them overlies the cross bore16 (FIG. 4), the element 72 so positioned will project into the crossbore 16 and further into the space between the guide portion 52 and theflange 58 of the stem 6. Hence, the stem 6 cannot be moved inwardly oroutwardly. The retaining element 74 is substantially thinner than theblocking elements 72 on either side of it and is on its inner face flushwith the inner faces of the blocking elements 72. When the cover 4 isturned such that the retaining element 74 overlies the cross bore 16(FIG. 8), the retaining element 72 will extend into the cross bore 16and likewise into the space between the guide portion 52 and theretaining flange 58. The spring 8 urges the retaining flange 58 againstthe retaining element 74, but since the retaining element 72 issubstantially narrower than the space between the guide portion 52 andthe retaining flange 58, the stem 6 can be pushed inwardly against theforce exerted by the spring 8. When the retaining flange 58 is againstthe retaining element 74 or the blocking elements 72, the stem 6 ofwhich it forms a part is in its closed position (FIG. 3) but when theretaining element 74 overlies the cross bore 16 and the stem 6 is pushedinwardly until the guide portion 52 thereon abuts the retaining flange58, then the stem 6 is in its open position (FIG. 7). Of course, thestem 6 cannot be pushed inwardly when either of the blocking elements 72overlie the cross bore 16 since those elements are wide enough to fillthe space between the guide portion 52 and retaining flange 58 and thusleave no room for movement.

The arcuate length of the two blocking elements 72 and the interveningretaining element 74 is less than the arcuate length of the groove 14 sothat the cover 4 can rotate a limited amount on the spindle 26.Moreover, the relative positioning between the two blocking elements 72is such that one is against the end of the arcuate groove 14, the otheroverlies the cross bore 16 and prevents movement of the stem 6 thereinand viceversa (FIG. 4).

The cover 4 has an arrow or some other indicia which when directly overthe axis of the stem 6 indicates that the retaining element 74 overliesthe cross bore 16 and the stem 6 can be pushed inwardly.

OPERATION The container B is stored with its closure C in the doublelocked condition. In that condition, the arrow on the cover is displacedto the side of the stem 6 and the arrow on the operating knob 56 of thestem 6 is pointed in some direction other than directly upwardly (FIG.1). With its arrow displaced to the side of the stem 6, the cover 4 isin a locked position wherein its locking elements 72 project into thespace between the guide portion 52 and the retaining flange 58 of thestem 6, thus preventing movement of the stem 6 inwardly to its openposition (FIGS. 3 & 4). On the other hand, when the stem 6 has its arrowpointed in some direction other than directly upwardly, the rib 54 doesnot align with the slot 24 and the stem 6 cannot be pushed into the bore16 (FIG. 5). Thus, if the cover 4 is turned to bring the arrow thereondirectly over the stem 6 in which case the retaining element 74 and notone of the blocking elements 72, will overlie the cross bore 16, thestem 6 still cannot be pushed inwardly since the rib 54 will not fitinto the bore 16. The spring 8 pushes the stem 6 outwardly to its closedposition and turns the stem 6 so that the rib 54 does not align with theslot 24. When the stem 6 is in its closed position, the spool 60 thereonoverlies and blocks both the dispensing bore 38 and the vent bore 40.

To open the closure C, the cover 4 is turned to its release position,that is, until the arrow thereon is centered over the stem 6. Thisplaces the retaining element 74 over the cross bore 16 so no immediateimpediment exists in front of the guide portion 52 (FIG. 8). Next, theoperating knob 56 is turned to bring its arrow opposite the arrow on thecover 4. In that case the arrow on the knob 56 points directly upwardly.Since the spring 8 is anchored to both the base 2 and the stem 6, theknob 56 must be turned against the restoring torsion exerted by thespring 8. Once the two arrows are aligned, the knob 56 is pushedinwardly. As the stem 6 moves through the cross bore 16 the rib 54enters the slot 24 at the bottom of the cross bore 16. The movementcontinues until the guide portion 52 abuts against the retaining element74 (FIG. 7). When this occurs, the stem 6 is in its open position and inthat position the annular groove 62 in the spool 60 lies opposite thedispensing bore 38 and the hollow spindle 40, while the relieved portionbetween the retaining flange 58 and the guide portion lies opposite thevent bore 40. Therefore, when the container B is turned upside down,liquid flows through the dispensing bore 38, the annular groove 63 inthe spool 60, and the hollow spindle 26 from which it leaves the closureC. Hence, the dispensing bore 38 and the hollow interior of the spindle26 form a dispensing channel. The interior of the container B is ventedthrough the tube 42, the vent bore .40, the relief between the guideportion 52 and the retaining flange 58, and the venting aperture 22along the arcuate groove 14.

Once the knob 56 is released, the spring 8 pushes the stem 6 outwardlyuntil its retaining flange 53 abuts against the retaining element 74. Asthe stem 6 moves outwardly the rib 54 will clear the slot 24 and whenthis occurs the spring 8 further twists the stem 6 so that the rib 54thereon no longer aligns with the slot 24. Thus, if the user is suddenlydistracted and leaves the container B unattended, the closure C willautomatically close and place itself in a condition where it cannot beeasily opened. Of course, when the stem 6 is in its outer or closedposition the spool 60 overlies both the dispensing and vent bores 38 and40 and prevents liquid from leaving them.

If the container B is intentionally set aside, its cover 4 should beturned to place the closure C in its double locked condition (FIG. 1).

MODIFICATION It is possible to provide the closure C with a modifiedstem (FIG. 9) which is very similar to the stem 6. The stem 80, however,is a unitary structure with the portion thereof which overlies the endsof the dispension bore 38 and the hollow spindle 26 being hollow.Moreover, the portion which overlies the end of the vent bore 40possesses an arcuate groove 82 which enables the container B to bevented when the stem 80 is in its closed position, and turned to aprescribed position.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of theexample of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosurewhich do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A closure for a container for a fluent substance, comprising a basehaving means to mount on the container and having a dispensing channel,

a valve element in the base movable between a closed position, whereinthe valve element blocks the dispensing channel, and an open position,wherein the valve element allows the fluent substance to flow throughthe channel, and

a locking member mounted on the base and movable relative to the baseand to the valve element between locking and release positions, thelocking member allowing the valve element to move to its open positionwhen in its release position and obstructing the valve element andretaining the valve element in the closed position when in the lockingposition,

wherein the valve element includes a spool which blocks the dispensingchannel when the valve element is in the closed position and the valveelement moves axially with respect to the spool, and

wherein the locking member and the valve element rotate about axespositioned at an angle relative to 4 one another, and wherein both thelocking member and the valve element must be turned to prescribedangular positions before the valve element can be moved axially to itsopen position.

2. A closure for a container adapted to hold fluent substances, saidclosure comprising: a base having means to mount on the container andhaving a dispensing channel and a cross bore intersecting the channel,the base further having a spindle and the channel being extended throughthe spindle; a valve element in the cross bore and movable axiallytherein between an open position wherein the valve element permitsfluent substances to flow through the channel and a closed positionwherein the valve element blocks the channel; and a cover surroundingthe spindle and rotatable between locked and release positions, thecover when in the locked position engaging the valve element andpreventing the valve element from moving to its open position and whenin the release position allowing the valve element to move to the openposition.

3. A closure for a container adapted to hold fluid substances,comprising a base having means to mount on the container and having asubstantially vertical dispensing channel and a substantially horizontalcylindrical cross bore including an entrance at one side of the base andintersecting the dispensing channel,

a valve element in the cross bore having piston-like means therein andhaving outwardly-projecting manipulating means to twist the valveelement and to press it axially inward in said cross bore and thereby tomove its piston-like means from a closed position blocking thedispensing channel to an open position,

the valve element further having at the inward side of said manipulatingmeans a projection of greater radial extent than the cross bore,

groove means in said cross bore entrance to receive said projection whenin angular registration therewith and thereby define a single angularalignment for axial movement of the valve element, and

a compression spring having one end keyed to the closure base and theother end keyed to the valve element, whereby the manipulating means isnormally positioned at a safety angle out of registration with saidsingle angular alignment for axial movement and whereby the valveelement cannot be pressed inward without first twisting to said singleangular alignment, thereby building up torque in the spring, and wherebyon release of inward pressure said spring will first bias the valveelement outward and then twist it back to such safety angle position.

4. A closure for a container adapted to hold fluid substances,comprising a base having means to mount on the container, further havingan upper surface including a depressed portion, a substantially verticaldispensing channel, and a substantially horizontal cross borepenetrating one side of the base and intersecting said depressed surfaceportion and further intersecting the dispensing channel,

a valve element in the cross bore having pistonlike means therein andhaving outwardly-projecting manipulating means to press the valveelement axially inward in said cross bore from a closed position,wherein the piston-like means blocks the dispensing channel, to an openposition wherein said means is displaced axially to permit fluentsubstances to flow through the channel,

the valve element further having, between said manipulating means andsaid piston-like means, a portion of substantially smaller radialextent,

compression spring means operable between the closure base and the valveelement to bias it outward, and

a cover element mounted on the base for angular movement about asubstantially vertical axis and having a downward-extending blockingmeans within said depressed surface portion,

whereby angular movement of said cover element interposes said blockingmeans over said valve element portion of smaller radial extent, therebyto selectively prevent operation of the valve element.

1. A closure for a container for a fluent substance, comprising a basehaving means to mount on the container and having a dispensing channel,a valve element in the base movable between a closed position, whereinthe valve element blocks the dispensing channel, and an open position,wherein the valve element allows the fluent substance tO flow throughthe channel, and a locking member mounted on the base and movablerelative to the base and to the valve element between locking andrelease positions, the locking member allowing the valve element to moveto its open position when in its release position and obstructing thevalve element and retaining the valve element in the closed positionwhen in the locking position, wherein the valve element includes a spoolwhich blocks the dispensing channel when the valve element is in theclosed position and the valve element moves axially with respect to thespool, and wherein the locking member and the valve element rotate aboutaxes positioned at an angle relative to one another, and wherein boththe locking member and the valve element must be turned to prescribedangular positions before the valve element can be moved axially to itsopen position.
 2. A closure for a container adapted to hold fluentsubstances, said closure comprising: a base having means to mount on thecontainer and having a dispensing channel and a cross bore intersectingthe channel, the base further having a spindle and the channel beingextended through the spindle; a valve element in the cross bore andmovable axially therein between an open position wherein the valveelement permits fluent substances to flow through the channel and aclosed position wherein the valve element blocks the channel; and acover surrounding the spindle and rotatable between locked and releasepositions, the cover when in the locked position engaging the valveelement and preventing the valve element from moving to its openposition and when in the release position allowing the valve element tomove to the open position.
 3. A closure for a container adapted to holdfluid substances, comprising a base having means to mount on thecontainer and having a substantially vertical dispensing channel and asubstantially horizontal cylindrical cross bore including an entrance atone side of the base and intersecting the dispensing channel, a valveelement in the cross bore having piston-like means therein and havingoutwardly-projecting manipulating means to twist the valve element andto press it axially inward in said cross bore and thereby to move itspiston-like means from a closed position blocking the dispensing channelto an open position, the valve element further having at the inward sideof said manipulating means a projection of greater radial extent thanthe cross bore, groove means in said cross bore entrance to receive saidprojection when in angular registration therewith and thereby define asingle angular alignment for axial movement of the valve element, and acompression spring having one end keyed to the closure base and theother end keyed to the valve element, whereby the manipulating means isnormally positioned at a safety angle out of registration with saidsingle angular alignment for axial movement and whereby the valveelement cannot be pressed inward without first twisting to said singleangular alignment, thereby building up torque in the spring, and wherebyon release of inward pressure said spring will first bias the valveelement outward and then twist it back to such safety angle position. 4.A closure for a container adapted to hold fluid substances, comprising abase having means to mount on the container, further having an uppersurface including a depressed portion, a substantially verticaldispensing channel, and a substantially horizontal cross borepenetrating one side of the base and intersecting said depressed surfaceportion and further intersecting the dispensing channel, a valve elementin the cross bore having piston-like means therein and havingoutwardly-projecting manipulating means to press the valve elementaxially inward in said cross bore from a closed position, wherein thepiston-like means blocks the dispensing channel, to an open positionwherein said means is displaced axially to permit fluent substances toflow through the channel, the valve element further having, between saidmanipulating means and said piston-like means, a portion ofsubstantially smaller radial extent, compression spring means operablebetween the closure base and the valve element to bias it outward, and acover element mounted on the base for angular movement about asubstantially vertical axis and having a downward-extending blockingmeans within said depressed surface portion, whereby angular movement ofsaid cover element interposes said blocking means over said valveelement portion of smaller radial extent, thereby to selectively preventoperation of the valve element.